Trump was referencing unauthorized immigrants associated with the MS-13 gang. But some critics felt his comment was broadly dehumanizing of immigrants.

During the meeting, a California sheriff complained to Trump about legal hurdles in detaining unauthorized immigrants and US Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, specifically referencing MS-13.

“ICE is the only law enforcement agency that cannot use our databases to find the bad guys,” Sheriff Margaret Mims said. “They cannot come in and talk to people in our jail, unless they reach a certain threshold. They can’t do all kinds of things that other law enforcement agencies can do. And it’s really put us in a very bad position.”

“There could be an MS-13 member I know about – if they don’t reach a certain threshold, I cannot tell ICE about it,” Mims added.

Trump replied: “We have people coming into the country, or trying to come in – and we’re stopping a lot of them – but we’re taking people out of the country. You wouldn’t believe how bad these people are. These aren’t people. These are animals.”

The president further claimed the US is removing such individuals out of the country “at a level and at a rate that’s never happened before.”

Trump also said the US has the “dumbest” immigration laws in the world.

The backlash to Trump’s remarks on social media was swift

Here’s a sampling:

Before enslavement Africans were called “apes”

Before the Holocaust Jewish people were called “rats”

Before the Rwandan genocide Tutsis were called “cockroaches”

Calling undocumented people “animals” as the president just did is gravely serious. It’s not just an offensive word

But some conservative commentators, among others, felt the president’s comments were broadly taken out of context and portrayed as if he referred to all unauthorized immigrants as ‘animals’

He was specifically talking about MS-13, and you know it. They are animals. I know you would rather side with them than Trump as you so often make clear but it’s a bad look for you Andrea. https://t.co/Mgoj1celNv